WELLS NEXT THE SEA: A PERFECT FIRST TIMERS GUIDE BY FREQUENT VISITORS!
PLANNING A BEACH TRIP TO WELLS NEXT THE SEA?
Quick backstory. Even as born and bred Brit, I’ve always thought UK beaches were just made up of painful shingles, a sea so brown you’re like “Ew, no way am I going in there” and overall – just a bit glum looking. Excluding Cornwall, but who wants to always drive 7/8 hours for a beach day?
ππΌββοΈ Hands up. Wells Beach proved me so, SO wrong.
This little slice of north Norfolk paradise β with its soft sand, playful dune landscapes, woodland and colourful beach huts β slapped the prejudice straight out of me.
Now we can’t get enough, frequently visiting “Wells Beach” every time a weekend goes over 15Β°c π We just took our 1 year old for the first time, and save to say he’s hooked too.
One of many beach access wooden steps set along Wells Beach. Photo by Jordie.
As long as they’re not in use, sit yourself in front of a vacant beach hut for some shade, there’s no shade anywhere else!
So! I hope this super handy guide sets you up for a seamless day at this idyllic north Norfolk beach and beachside town.
Continue on for info on the beach, parking and costs, on-site facilities, things to do, places to stay if you wish and even wildlife to look out for. Ready? Let’s get to it!
Want peace and quiet? Walk down a few hundred metres to pass all the beach huts. Small sand dunes appear, and the main crowds disappear. Even in peak Summer. Obviously, not many people like to be too far from a loo!!
I mean, can you ask for more? White soft sand and tree-lined beach huts on Wells-next-the-sea beach. Photograph taken by Jordie.
After passing the beach huts, the main crowds basically disappear. Photo taken by Jordie.
WELLS BEACH’S SAND RIVALS ANY ABROAD DESTINATION
What makes Wells Beach ideal is the sand. Unlike a lot of UK beaches (that are more shingly, even in parts), Wells is not. The beach is absolutely huge, all of it made up of soft sand.
You’ll find the softer, dry sand up near the huts and tree-line, whereas half-way down it’ll be a bit damp from the tide.
IT’S A HUGE BEACH, WITH SPACE FOR EVERYONE
Wells Beach stretches on for miles, seamlessly blending into Holkham Beach, 2 miles away. Plenty of space to go round for everyone, even on busy peak season days!
Peak July weekend, the beach is very busy around the closest stairs to the car park.
Same time, same beach, just 200 metres-ish further down. It’s a lot quieter.
YOU CAN RENT ONE OF THE BEACH HUTS
Fancy a bit extra comfort, shade or a spot to brew a cuppa? You can rent a Wells Beach hut for as little as Β£60 a day. There’s a 6 person limit per hut.
Wells Beach huts come in all shapes and sizes. Photo by Jordie.
Not to mention, all different colours too! Photo by Jordie.
IT’S NOT THE BEST FOR SWIMMING
If you’re after a good swimming spot, Wells Beach isn’t the best choice because it is super tidal. During the day, the low tide goes out SO far you can literally hardly see the sea.
You’d have to walk ages (sometimes up to 1 mile!!) from the main beach across its width, and even when you get to it, it’s pretty shallow.
When high tide comes back in, it notoriously sneaks up on you fast. Sometimes from behind, making it not the safest option if you don’t keep an eye on it.
You could walk up to 1 mile from main beach to the sea at low tide! Photograph by Jordie.
THERE’S ONE HUGE CAR PARK NEXT TO WELLS BEACH, BUT COME EARLY IN SUMMER
Just as stones throw from Wells Beach, you’ll find the Pay & Display Wells Beach car park, at the end of Beach Road.
Parking at Wells Beach costs Β£3.60 for 2 hours, Β£7 for 4 hours or Β£13.50 for all day. “All day” meaning up to 9pm between March-October, 6pm between November-February. Easily pay with loose change or by card.
Wells Beach car park, the beach is literally through those trees! Photo by Jordie.
2025 car parking prices at Wells Beach car park. Photo by Jordie.
Off-season, you shouldn’t have a problem getting parked throughout the day. It’s a large car park, with 460 spaces.
Peak season, school holidays, bank holiday weekends – different story. Despite its size, its been known to fill up by 10am on core Summer weekends. A parking attendant told us 10am usually, but get there 9am in Summer to be safe.
It sells quick hot foods like pastries, sausage rolls, all sorts of sweet things, cold drinks, hot drinks β even bucket and spades! There’s seating inside, and loads outside.
It is very easy to get to Wells Beach from Wells Beach car park. From the car park, Wells Beach is on the other side of the small sand dunes which run alongside the car park.
Walk below the pine tree-lined path to the left of the dunes until you reach the very first wooden boardwalk to get over the dunes and down to the beach. This is the quickest way to Wells Beach from the car park.
Top tip: If you pass the first boardwalk and continue along the path, this is part of the Norfolk Coastal Path. To avoid trudging the length of the beach on the sand in direct sun, you can instead walk parallel to the beach on this shady pine tree-lined path.
There are many other boardwalks along its length allowing easy access to the beach and back over again when you fancy.
Walk below this tree-lined path from the car park until you reach the first boardwalk to the beach on your right-hand side.
Looking back down at the path from the first boardwalk. This path continues parallel to the beach, and there are multiple opportunities to cross over to the beach.
Or continue along the first boardwalk for a few seconds, and get your first glimpse of Wells Next The Sea Beach – aka the best beach in North Norfolk!
YOU CAN WALK ALL THE WAY TO HOLKHAM ALONG WELLS BEACH
If you wanted to stretch your legs, walk past the beach huts until you see the beach become divided by a small sand dune bank.
When the tide is out, this creates a small sandy walkway between the pine trees and the small sand dunes, separating you from the main beach. The wetter sand and refreshing pools make it much easier to walk along.
Pictured: When the tide is out, stroll between the sand dunes along Wells Beach towards Holkham Beach. The firmer sand is easier to walk on and the pools of ocean left behind are refreshing to walk through!
When the tide is out, stroll between the sand dunes along Wells Beach towards Holkham Beach. The firmer sand is easier to walk on and the puddles of ocean left behind are refreshing to walk through!
Technically you can walk as far as you like. We walked 20 to 30 minutes until we reached short boardwalk leading to the modern The Lookout cafe at Holkham car park.
Stop here to use their free public toilets, refill your water bottles for free or grab a drink or snack from the cafe before heading back towards Wells Beach.
Psst! As mentioned earlier, there are plenty of opportunities to criss-cross back up the small sand dune mounds onto the main path below the pine trees if walking along the sand gets too tiresome on your feet.
As you walk from Wells Beach across the Holkham Beach, you will eventually come across this short boardwalk, which leads towards The Lookout Cafe.
The modern The Lookout Cafeat Holkham Beach car park, where you can refill your water bottles, use the public toilet and grab refreshments from the cafe!
THERE’S SO MUCH WILDLIFE, AND BIRDLIFE, IN THE AREA
The area around Wells Beach and Holkham beach is an official National Nature Reserve, meaning it is a wildlife haven – especially for bird species!
The Lookout cafe has a board directly outside showing the most recent wildlife sightings, and photos of all of the bird species who live in the area!
The Lookout Cafe board showing all recent wildlife sightings in the area!
The Norfolk coast is also the renowned home for Common and Grey seals. Though it can be possible to see seals on Wells Beach, greatly increase your odds by taking an organised boat tour , which will take you to all the local seal hotspots in the area!
Top Tip: Another great wildlife haven in Norfolk is Horsey Beach to see the seals, a 1 hour 30 minute drive from Wells Next The Sea. It is the best beach in Norfolk to see wild seals!
SPOTTED WILDLIFE!
Moon Jellyfish Spotted walking along from Wells Beach to Holkham Beach. Usually found washed up on the shore (like this one), this semi-transparent, rounded shaped jellyfish calls Norfolk home. They can spotted in Norfolk all year round.
A washed up Moon Jellyfish, Wells Beach
SPOTTED WILDLIFE!
Oystercatcher Spotted on the beach and on grassy areas on the outskirts of Wells town! This stocky black and white bird is recognisable by its long bright orange bill and wading legs. Earning its name for eating on the cockle beds, Oystercatchers breed on most UK coasts!
A black and white Oystercatcher bird
OR, FROM WELLS BEACH, IT’S A SCENIC 10-15 MINUTE WALK TO WELLS-NEXT-THE-SEA TOWN
From Wells-Next-The-Sea town to Wells beach, it is approximately 1 mile. It’s an easy 15 minute (ish) walk dead straight along a flat path trailing the harbour on the left.
Pictured: The straight, elevated walkway along the harbour from Wells beach, heading towards Wells Next The Sea town centre.
IN WELLS NEXT THE SEA TOWN
Wells Next The Sea is a small quaint fishing town and port located on the North Norfolk coast of England.
Originally named Wells (from the freshwater wells nearby), the ‘Next The Sea’ addition was added in the 19th century to make it distinguishable from other areas of the same name. Most locals still call it ‘Wells’.
WHAT IS THERE TO DO IN WELLS NEXT THE SEA?
Just a 15-minute straight walk from the beach, Wells Next The Sea town centre is dotted with ‘frozen-in-time’ gift, apparel, pottery, book and grocery shops.
The majority of these can be found on the quaint, pedestrianised Staithes Street.
Along the shorefront, you will find the obligatory British fish and chips bar and buzzing amusements arcades.
Pictured: The main shorefront of Wells Next The Sea town. This is the first area you see as you approach from Wells Beach.
Pictured: The quirky lane of Staithes Street, Wells Next The Sea!
The main draw for visiting Wells Next The Sea is Wells Beach. Its vast size, sandy beaches, beachside walks, wildlife and beach huts make it one of the most picturesque beaches in Norfolk.
We would say a full day trip to Wells Next The Sea is perfect.
IS WELLS NEXT THE SEA GOOD FOR SWIMMING?
Wells Next The Sea is not the best beaches for swimming. This is because the sea across the main stretch remains relatively shallow. The tide at Wells Beach at low tide can also go out for up to a mile, which of course makes it inconvenient to get to!
CAN YOU TAKE DOGS ON WELLS NEXT THE SEA BEACH?
Dogs are permitted on Wells Next The Sea beach throughout the year, however there are locational restrictions in place.
There is a ‘no dog zone’ for the first 200 yards of beach from the main entrance, nearest Wells Beach car park. This is the busiest area that is more often than not always bustling with people. Dogs are permitted however along the other ‘pinewood’ entrances slightly further down.
There are clear signposts to highlight the ‘no dog zones’.
It is encouraged to keep dogs on leads before you reach the beach, and near roped off areas where there are nesting birds and wildlife (seasonal).
This blog post was written by Jordie Flain!
Founder of TheFlainsTravel.com
A travel-obsessed Sagittarius creating honest, easy-to-follow guides. Powered by tea, chocolate and a slightly concerning amount of tomato ketchup.
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Jordie Flain is the owner and author of The Flains Travel, a travel blog with emphasis on ethical wildlife experiences, "seen to be believed" natural beauty and "real magic" phenomena, such as the northern lights. Jordie crafts every itinerary and post to perfection for travellers to follow and get the very most out of their time in a destination.
